7月22日 选择我们所顺服的权柄
选择我们所顺服的权柄
多少时候，雇主仅仅因为基督徒雇员在工作中所表现出的骄傲与敷衍，便将所有关于基督教信仰的念头抛诸脑后！
有时，我们对自身的人际关系别无选择——孩子无法选择自己的父亲，父母也无法选择自己的儿女。然而，当神确实赋予我们自由选择的权利时，祂总是要求我们作出明智的选择。
要选择属灵的主人。在选择你要顺服的权柄时，务要谨慎，好借此显出你对圣洁的看重。首先，你要弄清楚，那扇门内的属灵空气，是否像门外的自然空气一样对你的灵魂有益。你怎能甘愿将自己置于不敬虔之人的权下呢？即便两个主人的性情相投，一个人要服侍两个主人尚且困难；若要同时服侍圣洁的神和不敬虔的人，且想让双方都喜悦，那更是绝无可能的。
然而，如果你已经身处邪恶权柄的屋檐下，在不敬虔之人的手下工作，那么，即便他们把神忘得一干二净，你也绝不可忘记自己对他们当尽的本分。你的忠心或许会促使他们因你的缘故去寻求神，就如尼布甲尼撒因但以理的缘故敬畏神一样。此外，如果在基督徒的生命中能彰显出更多的荣美，以此来吸引罪人进入神的国，那么毫无疑问，罪人必会更加郑重地看待神的道。
若一本书字体清晰优美，我们往往更乐意翻阅；若印刷暗淡、字迹细小，我们就容易将其束之高阁。多少时候，雇主仅仅因为基督徒雇员在工作中所表现出的骄傲与敷衍，便将所有关于基督教信仰的念头抛诸脑后！他们必然会得出这样理所当然的结论：“这就是你们信仰所结出的果子吗？那么，愿神使我远离这样的宗教！”基督徒啊，你无可指责的行为，乃是让不敬虔或属肉体的雇主看见神之道的最佳途径。
不过，容我再补充一条实际的建议。或许你已经竭尽全力，想将神的真理带入那个工作场所，但那里的土壤实在太坚硬、太冰冷，以至于在那里为神撒种实在看不到任何指望。那么，现在正是你认真考虑将自己移植到别处的时候了；因为，一片恶劣到无法让你撒下基督教信仰种子的田地，同样也不可能让你在其中健康成长。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：士5章，徒9章，
个人灵修：耶18章，可4章
JULY 22, WENDESDAY
CHOOSING OUR AUTHORITIES
How often do employers throw away all thoughts of Christianity because their Christian employees turn in performance of pride and carelessness?
Sometimes we have no choice about our relationships—a child cannot select his own father or the parent his son. But when God does allow us freedom to choose, He expects a wise choice every time.
Select spiritual masters. Be careful to show your holiness in the authority you put yourself under. First, find out if the air inside the doors is as healthful for your soul as it is for your body outside. Will you voluntarily submit to ungodly men? It is hard enough to serve two masters, even when both have similar personalities; but it is impossible to serve a holy God and an ungodly man and please them both.
If you are already under the roof of wicked authorities, though, do not forget your responsibility to them even if they forget about God altogether. Your faithfulness might cause them to seek God for your sake as Nebuchadnezzar did for Daniel’s. Besides, sinners would undoubtedly take the ways of God more seriously if there were more beauty upon Christians’ lives to invite them into the kingdom.
We are more likely to choose a book if the print is attractive and clear and to ignore one with dull or tiny lettering. How often do employers throw away all thoughts of Christianity because their Christian employees turn in performance of pride and carelessness? The natural conclusion inevitably follows: “Is this what comes of your belief? Well, God keep me from such a religion!” Christian, your blameless behavior is the best way for ungodly or carnal employers to see the ways of God.
But let me add a practical suggestion—maybe you are doing everything you can to bring God’s truth into that place but the soil is so hard and cold that there is no visible hope of planting for Him there. Then it is high time to think about transplanting yourself; for if the field is too bad for you to sow Christianity in, it cannot be very good for you to grow in either.